Signal device for game pieces



June 13, 1950 w. A. BRAUN SIGNAL DEVICE FOR GAME PIECES Filed Dec. 6, 1946 12210627 30 2: mi/i/iamfllirqun.

Patented June 13, 1950.

UNITED STATES rereNT OFFICE SIGNAL DEVICE FOR GAME PIECES William A. Braun, Somerville, Mass.

Application December 6, 1946, Serial No. 714,408

2 Claims.

This invention relates to a signal device for use with a game piece in the nature of a surface projectile intended to be propelled by snapping the same, as in the game of marbles, so that the game piece which is being propelled strikes another like game piece, whereupon the impact sounds the signal device, carried by the game piece. The game piece is intended for use upon a hard, smooth pavement or walk, or upon a floor, and to reduce frictional resistance to its travel, is equipped with balls which roll along the surface.

The invention will be understood by reference to the following description when taken in connection with the accompanying drawings of one specific embodiment thereof, while its scope will be pointed out more particularly in the appended claims.

In the drawings:

Fig. 1 is a plan of a game piece equipped with a signal device embodying the invention; and

Fig. 2 is a vertical, sectional view on line 2--2 of Fig. 1.

Referring to the drawing and to the embodiment of the invention illustrated therein as an example, there is shown an audible signal for use with a game piece the same comprising a base 4, herein circular as viewed from the top (see Fig. 1) and having a chamber 5 for said signal device, such as a bell 8 arranged to be operated by the impact of one game piece with another. To this end, in the present example, the bell is arranged with its edge in rather close proximity to the internal surface of bell-striker in the nature of a circumferential wall In of the housing and the bell is arranged for lateral displacement so that its edge will be struck by said bell-striker.

One convenient arrangement to permit such lateral displacement is a laterally resilient body such as a helically coiled spring l2 having its lower end suitably afilxed to the housing and having its upper end suitably afiixed to the bell, thereby to form a resilient support for the latter, enabling a shock in a horizontal direction by sudden stoppage of the housing to utilize the tendency of the bell to continue in motion to bring the bell into contact with the housing, thereby to ring the bell. In the present example, the spring is secured to the housing by a screw 14 threaded into the coils of the spring, and is secured to the bell in like manner by a screw I6. threaded into the coils of the spring. The lower screw is suitably aflixed to the housing as by being passed through the bottom l8 of the latter, and the upper screw is suitably afiixed to the bell as by fixedly mounting the same in an internal boss 20.

In the present embodiment, the base is open at the top and is cup-like, and the bell is arranged with its rim downwardly directed and is rather close to the bottom of the housing. In this instance, the housing has the external surface of its circumferential wall equipped with a cushion such as a band 22 of rubber, for example, seated in a circumferential groove 24 and projecting laterally a suflicient distance so that it will strike a like cushion on another game piece to ease the shock somewhat. This ring also cushions the blow of the users finger when snapping the game piece.

To reduce frictional resistance to travel of the game piece along the supporting surface, it is equipped with a plurality of balls 26 to roll on such surface. One convenient way to arrange these balls is to provide the bottom I8 of the housing with ball-retainers 28 exposing a suificient surface of the balls yet without permitting their escape downwardly while upward escape of the balls is prevented by a retainer in the nature of a plate 30 spaced from the bottom I8 as by a spacer in the nature of a washer 32 between the plate and the bottom. The plate may be held seated upon the washer as by the lower end of the spring I2 resting upon the plate. The washer prevents the plate from pressing upon the balls, and thus the latter are held with sufficient looseness to permit them to roll easily. Thus, the game piece travels with so little frictional resistance as to be capable of moving at high speed when snapped by the finger of the user.

Having thus described one embodiment of the invention, what I claim is:

l. A signal device for a game piece to be moved upon a supporting surface as by actuation by a player, said device comprising in combination, a substantially fiat freely movable supporting base, a post upstanding from and affixed to said base, said post being in the nature of a laterally resilient body capable of being sprung laterally and of returning to a normal upright position 3 when deflected therefrom by contact of the device with another object, a bell supported by said post to partake of the 1ateral motion of said post, and a relatively rigid bell-striker located on the base laterally of and spaced from said bell in the normal position of the latter.

2. A signal device for a game piece to be moved upon a supporting surface as by actuation by a player, said device comprising in combination, a circular cup-like bodily movable base, a post upstanding from and aflixed to said base, said post being in the nature of a laterally resilient body capable of being sprung laterally and of returning to a normal upright position when deflected therefrom, a bell supported by said post to partake of the lateral motion of said post, and a circumferentially disposed, annular bell-striker mounted on and carried by the base and disposed about and spaced from said bell in the normal position of the latter.

WILLIAM A. BRAUN.

4 REFERENCES CITED The following references are of record in the file of this patent:

UNITED STATES PATENTS Number Name Date 254,768 Haynes Mar. 7, 1882 486,380 Lachmann Nov. 15, 1892 517,103 Hamilton Mar. 27, 1894 996,453 Coleman June 27, 1911 1,394,670 Da Costa Oct. 25, 1921 1,499,539 Landon July 1, 1924 1,598,865 Limervick Sept. 7, 1926 1,668,143 Daasch May 1, 1928 1,772,804 Gillis Aug. 12, 1930 2,133,423 Burrow Oct. 18, 1938 FOREIGN PATENTS Number Country Date 28,667 Great Britain Oct. 23, 1897 of 1896 176,164 Great Britain Mar. 9, 1922 

